Incandescent-lamp socket.



No. 653,962. Patented July l7, I900. F. H. MANCHESTER & l. E. BROWN.

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mva bziz a a. f. 9/7? 7H5 NORRIS PETERS m, PN O10-LITHO UNITED STATES FREDERIC H. MANCHESTER AND IRVlNG E. BROYVN,

RI-IODE ISLAND.

PATENT OFFICE or PROVIDENCE,

lNCANDESCENT-LAMP SOCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,962, dated July 17, 1900. Application filed Ma 9,1900. Serial No. 16,045. on model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we,FREnERIo H. MAN- CHESTER and IRVINGE. BROWN, citizens of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Incandescent-Lamp Sockets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to an improvement in sockets for incandescent lamps.

- The invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction and the combination of the parts whereby a durable and efficient socket for incandescent lamps, a practical and convenient circuit-controlling device, and contacts for closing the circuit are secured, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side View of an incandescent-lamp socket constructed after our invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view showing the lamp-contacts. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the socket. Fig. 5 is a side view of the key-socket, showing the journal-bearings for the key-stem. Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are perspective views of details forming the circuit-controlling device shown in operative connection in Fig. 2.

Similar marks of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

In carrying out the invention the key-socket is formed of the two blocks a and a. These blocks are made of suitable insulating material and are joined on the line a The block a forms the base for the tubular sheet-metal socket b, corrugated to form a screw-thread, in which the lamp is secured. The block a is provided with the groove (i extending across the upper surface, and the block a is provided with a deeper groove a The tubular socket b has the inwardly-projecting annular flange 12' formed integral with the tubular socket. The said flange b bears against the annular face of the block a, surrounding the central boss a The horseshoe-shaped contact-spring b bears on the annular flange b of the metal socket b and is secured by the screw-bolts b groove a. The plate b is provided with the clamping screw-post b and the'channel b is formed in the block a to receive the conductor-wire of one branch of the circuit, which is secured to the screw-post D The horseshoe contact-spring b has the arm 12 extending from the spring upward above the block a, and terminating in the recess 11 in the block a, in which recess the conductor-wire of the other branch of the circuit extends and is secured to the screw-post on the end of the arm 11 The horseshoe-spring Z2 and through it the metal socket b, is thus connected with and forms the terminal of one branch of the circuit, and the contact-plate I) is connected with and forms the terminal of the other branch of the circuit.

The circuit-controlling device consists of the U-shaped metal spring 0, placed into the groove a in the block a, the bracket 0', having the vertical slots 0 0 which rests on the lower arm of the spring 0, and the screw 0 which extends through the center of the boss a and the block a. The screw 0 also extends through the hole 0 in the lower arm of the spring 0, and its screw-threaded end is in screw-thread engagement with the base of the bracket 0. The spring 0 is thereby firmly secured to the block a by the screw and is also in metallic contact with the head of the screw 0 which head forms the contact-terminal of the holder and engages with the contact stud or plate on the lamp, so that when the lamp is secured in the socket the whole of the springc is in electrical connection with the lamp, and when the arm 0 of the spring 0 is in contact with the terminal plate b the path of least resistance between the terminal and the lamp is through the spring 0 and screw 0 The key (1 is secured to one end of the key-stem d, which has at the inner end the two annular bearing-grooves (Z 11 and the projecting arms (1 (1 The block a has the groove 61 extending from the peripheral surface at a right angle to the groove a atthe center of the block. The groove (1 extends from the lower edge of the block a. The upper end is semicircular and forms the bearing of the upper half of the key-stem d. Then the parts are assembled, the bearing-grooves d d engage with the slots 0 c of the bracket 0' and hold the keystem in position. The grooved block d is j ournaled on the keystem on one side of the arms (1 (1 but is loose on the stem. The arms (1 (1 when the key-stem is partially turned come in contact with the walls of the groove of the block (1 and act to turn the block.

In the combination and construction adapted in our improved socket the block in turning moves longitudinally on the arm 0 of the spring 0, and as soon as acorner of the block (1 has passed the center it turns on the keystem, and thereby makes or breaks the circuit with a sudden snap.

By the construction of the block in two parts, the grooves in these parts, and the circuit-controlling device, as herein shown and described, structural strength and durability are combined with economy in cost and facility in assembling the parts. By placing the block (Z on the key-stem,the bearings into the slots 0 c and the substantial spring across the block the whole circuit-controlling device may be firmly secured by the screw 0 to the lower block a. The upper block Ct may now be passed over the parts, the screwbolts b 19 inserted, and by them the metal socket b, the horseshoe-spring b secured to the block a, and the two blocks a and a secured together to complete the socket ready for the reception of the incandescent lamp and the connection of the terminal conductors.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent In an incandescent-lamp socket, the combination with the upper part of a two-part insulating-block having passages in its edges for the circuit-Wires, a groove for the insertion of the key-stem, a groove for the circuitcontrolling spring, and a terminal in the upper part of the last-named groove, of the lower part of the insulating block, a U- shaped'spring, a slotted bracket forming the bearings for the stem of the circuit-controlling key, and a screw securing the bracket and one arm of the U-shaped spring to the lower insulating-block, the head of the screw forming the contact-terminal engaging with the lamp, as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERIO H. MANCHESTER. IRVING E. BROXVN.

lVitnesses:

A. E. HAGERTY, J. A. MILLER, J r. 

